Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-21-2012
Abstract
Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is an inherited skin-blistering disease that is caused by dominant mutations in the genes for keratin K5 or K14 proteins. While the link between keratin mutations and keratinocyte fragility in EBS patients is clear, the exact biophysical mechanisms underlying cell fragility are not known. In this study, we tested the hypotheses that mutant K14-R125P filaments and/or networks in human keratinocytes are mechanically defective in their response to large-scale deformations. We found that mutant filaments and networks exhibit no obvious defects when subjected to large uniaxial strains and have no negative effects on the ability of human keratinocytes to survive large strains. We also found that the expression of mutant K14-R125P protein has no effect on the morphology of the F-actin or microtubule networks or their responses to large strains. Disassembly of the F-actin network with Latrunculin A unexpectedly led to a marked decrease in stretch-induced necrosis in both WT and mutant cells. Overall, our results contradict the hypotheses that EBS mutant keratin filaments and/or networks are mechanically defective. We suggest that future studies should test the alternative hypothesis that keratinocytes in EBS cells are fragile because they possess a sparser keratin network.
Recommended Citation
Beriault DR, Haddad O, McCuaig JV, Robinson ZJ, Russell D, et al. (2012) The Mechanical Behavior of Mutant K14-R125P Keratin Bundles and Networks in NEB-1 Keratinocytes. PLoS ONE 7(2): e31320. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0031320
Copyright
The authors
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Included in
Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins Commons, Cell Biology Commons, Medical Genetics Commons, Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases Commons
Comments
This article was originally published in PLoS ONE, volume 7, issue 2, in 2012. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031320